Raleigh Man Guilty of State Tax Charges

Date:
November 27, 2007

Raleigh – A Raleigh man pleaded guilty today in Wake County District Court to tax charges filed by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Eric C. Welde, 47, of 5937 Hourglass Court, Raleigh pleaded guilty on Nov. 27, 2007 to five counts of willful failure to file North Carolina individual income tax returns for 2001 through 2005.

Wake County District Court Judge Kristen Ruth sentenced Welde to a 45-day prison term. The sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for one year. He was ordered to pay a $2,000 criminal fine and perform 100 hours of community service. Welde must also pay all penalties and interest due and file and pay all future taxes on time.

The state’s evidence showed that Welde earned sufficient income to require him to file state income tax returns for each of the years in question. Before his court appearance, he filed the delinquent returns and paid the taxes owed.

The charges against Welde resulted from an investigation by an auditor in the Department of Revenue’s Raleigh Field Examinations Office and a special agent with the Criminal Investigations Division.